Colon cancer
- You:
- 4.1%
- Avg:
- 5%
Your relative risk: below average
Your estimated lifetime risk: 4.1% (41 per 1,000)
Average lifetime risk: 5% (50 per 1,000)
You have two of the 10 risk markers
Your estimated risk
We took the average risk for women and used your genetic markers to estimate your lifetime risk for colon cancer: 4.1%.
Here's another way to look at your risk. In a sample population:
73% have a higher genetic risk than you
11% have the same genetic risk as you
16% have a lower genetic risk than you
Our sample population comes from the International HapMap Project, the largest publicly available database of human genome variation. It consists of 60 Americans of European ancestry.
Causes: colon cancer
Genes are only part of the story. Environment and behavior play a big role. Studies of twins show how much of a condition's cause is hereditary and how much is due to other factors.
What's next?
- Over 50? Make sure you're getting screened at intervals recommended by your physician.
- Under 50? If you have family history or symptoms, your doctor might start screening early.
- Another good reason to improve your diet and exercise.
What does it mean?
You are at below-average risk for colon cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Many deaths from this disease are preventable through regular screening, and lifestyle measures may prevent colon cancer from developing. Exercising and eating a healthy diet (lots of fruits and veggies, not so much red meat or alcohol) may also help lower your chances of getting colon cancer. About three in a thousand Americans suffer from colon cancer at any given time, and the average U.S. female has a 5 percent chance of developing colon cancer over her lifetime. Your risk increases with age — the vast majority of colon cancer diagnoses happen after age 50.
What we found
To calculate your estimated lifetime risk, we looked at five places in your genome that are associated with colon cancer. At each location, there are two markers, for a total of 10 possible risk markers. The chart below shows your markers for each of the five places. You have two of the 10 risk markers we looked for. Each risk marker increases your odds by a different amount — some a little, some a lot.
The height of the blue bars shows your odds ratio, a measure of the effect of a genetic variant on your odds of developing a condition. The clear bars represent the maximum odds ratio for each location. Roll your mouse over the chart for more information about each location.